Organizing and consolidating information dealing with simplifying life since January 2006, to help those considering a lifestyle change as well as those expert at living an abundant life in a frugal way.

January 31, 2010

Gratitude, I've found, is a powerful thing. When I was younger - working as a lawyer in a swanky downtown law firm - I didn't think about being grateful very often. I was too busy, living that anything-but-simple lifestyle. And if you'd asked me, I probably would have thought it was a sweet idea, somewhat corny, maybe I'd get around to it later. I probably would have put "remember to be grateful" on my To Do List.

Today, I know better. Being grateful for what you have is a very wise thing to do. It lessens your stress, it helps you focus, it makes you happy and content. Yes, no matter how bad a crisis you are in, stopping to be thankful for what you have at this very moment is important.

I also think it's essential to integrity, and honor, and courage ... but that's too much for this little blog post.

So, how to be grateful? There are lots of books out there, both Christian and not, that give advice on learning this gratitude habit.

For me, it's a matter of every morning (for sure, because you start the day out powerfully) and periodically throughout the day, I thank God for as much as I can possibly recognize as a good thing in my life, and nothing can be too trivial. Here's some of the things that I thank God for:

hot water

a shower

shampoo and conditioner

a washer and dryer

a washer and dryer IN MY HOUSE

a roof over my head and sound walls that keep the rain out

that peaceful, cozy feeling of listening to the rain falling outside, while I'm toasty warm under the covers

my bed

my pretty quilt and comfy sheets

coffee

a fridge

electricity

the ability to think

the ability to pray

that He listens to me

that He gave us the Bible

that there are churches and missionaries and charities to help people

that I can see, and hear, and speak, and think

that I'm healthy

that my loved ones (including my pups) are healthy

that I write for a living

that I love what I do for a living

that I live in the city and state and country that I do

for jokes

for laughter

for books

for the ability to read

... well, you get the idea. This is all about gratitude, now. My prayers asking that someone be helped, or comforted, etc. aren't part of this topic - so, yeah, I talk to God a lot when you start breaking all this stuff down. Good thing He created patience, right?

However, the power of gratitude isn't exclusive to followers of Christ. There is an energy that comes from stopping to survey where you are, in the very present moment, and see everything that is good in that moment and appreciate it, that is positive and electrifying. And clarifying.

Really want to rally yourself into moving forward into a happy day? Go thru all you can think about to be grateful for this very day, and ponder Haiti for a minute. Now, all that consideration of electricity, and a coffee pot, and hot water for a shower doesn't seem so trivial does it?

Things are good, and everything's going to be alright. Get out there and live a quality day!!!!

________________________________________________________________________________"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." - 1 Thess. 16-19 NLT

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Hi!

I'm Reba Kennedy, a Baby Boomer who is happily living the voluntary simplicity lifestyle in San Antonio. I began blogging about this way of life here in January 2006 for two reasons: to keep track of stuff and to share what I've found with others - like you, Dear Reader.

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I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

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